Parrot Grunt

Diagnosis: body oblong and compressed; snout rather short, about equal to eye diameter; 2 anterior pores on chin, followed by a median pit bearing openings of another pair of pores (Ref. 57395). A pore above posterior end of maxilla and under preorbital bone; last dorsal spine about the same length or even shorter, exceptionally somewhat longer, than penultimate one (Ref. 81655). 2nd anal fin spine longer and stouter than 3rd (Ref. 57395, 81655), third anal spine mostly much thinner (Ref. 81655). Caudal fin forked; scales slightly ctenoid; 6-8 scale rows between lateral line and middle of spinous dorsal-fin base (Ref. 57395).Description: 13-15/1/7-9 (total 21-26) gill rakers on first gill arch; 8-9 scales on upper part of transverse series; 22-26 scales around middle of caudal peduncle (Ref. 81655). Coloration: silvery-grey, with bluish reflections dorsally; light brown spots on back, tending to follow scale rows; dark spot at upper angle of opercle; spinous part of dorsal fin dark at base and distal margin (Ref. 57395).

Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 11 - 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 17; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 9 - 10; Vertebrae: 27

Feeds on fish, crustaceans, mollusks, zooplankton and detritus (Ref. 28587).

Found over sand and mud (Ref. 2683) in coastal waters (Ref. 2683, 57395). Enters estuaries and lagoons (Ref. 2135, 57395). Feeds on other fish (Ref. 5377), shrimps, crabs, mollusks, annelids, zooplankton and detritus (Ref. 28587). Often confused with P. jubelini (Ref. 57395).

fisheries: commercial